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{{short description|American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur}}
{{Infobox presenter
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}}
|name = Leo Laporte
{{Infobox person
|image = Leo Laporte 27 September 2007.jpg
| name = Leo Laporte
|imagesize = 253px
| image = Leo Laporte 27 September 2007.jpg
|birth_name = Léo Gordon Laporte
| alt = Photograph of Leo Laporte's head and shoulders. Leo is pictured wearing a patterned shirt. There is a black background and Leo is smiling.
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|11|29}}
| caption = Laporte pictured in 2007
|birth_place = ], ]
| birth_name =
|death_date =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|11|29|mf=y}}
|death_place =
| birth_place = ], U.S.
|show = Approx. 20 shows on the ] netcast network, also ] through ]
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (enter DEATH date then BIRTH date (e.g., ...|1967|8|31|1908|2|28}} use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
|station = TWiT TV LLC; Premiere Radio Networks
| death_place =
|timeslot = Saturdays and Sundays Live at 11:00AM PST
| citizenship =
|
| occupation = {{hlist | TV and radio presenter | podcaster}}
|website =http://www.leoville.com/<br />
| known_for = Founding ]
http://leoville.squarespace.com<br />
| credits = {{ubl | '']'' (1998–2004) | ''Call for Help'' (1998–2001; 2003–2007) | '']'' (2004-2022) | '']'' (since 2005)}}
http://www.techguylabs.com<br />
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
http://www.twit.tv
| television = Internet! (PBS), The Site (MSNBC), Call for Help (ZDTV/TechTV), The Screen Savers (ZDTV/TechTV)
| spouse = {{ubl | Jennifer Laporte (divorced) | Lisa Laporte ({{abbr|m.|married}}&nbsp;{{circa|2015}})}}
| website = {{official URL}}
| signature =
| signature_alt =
}} }}
<!--{{Infobox Celebrity
|spouse = Jennifer Laporte
|children = 2
}}-->
'''Léo Gordon Laporte''' ({{IPA-en|ləˈpɔrt|pron}}; born November 29, 1956 in ], ])<ref>. ''TV.com''</ref> is an ] winning, American ] ], ], and ].


'''Leo Laporte''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|ɔr|t}}; born November 29, 1956)<ref name="TechGuy_1849">{{cite podcast | first1 = Leo | last1 = Laporte | author-mask1 = 1 | title = The Tech Guy #1849 | website = ] | time =17:37 |date = 2021-12-04 | url = https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy/episodes/1849 |access-date=2021-12-31}}</ref> is the former host of '']'' weekly radio show<ref name="Leo_Premiere" /> and founder of ], an Internet ] network focusing on technology. He is also a former ] technology host (1998–2008) and a technology author. On November 19, 2022, actor, writer, musician, and comedian ] called into Laporte's radio show to announce Leo's retirement from ''The Tech Guy'' radio show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laporte |first=Lisa |title=The Secret Is Out! |url=https://twit.tv/posts/inside-twit/secret-out |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=TWiT.tv}}</ref> Laporte's last new radio show was December 18, 2022 with reruns for the remainder of the year. Rich DeMuro later appeared on the show to announce that he will be taking over in January with a weekly show, recorded on Saturdays, called "Rich On Tech."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rich on Tech {{!}} Premiere Networks |url=https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/rich-tech |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.premierenetworks.com}}</ref>
== Background ==
Laporte studied Chinese history at ] before dropping out in his junior year to pursue his career in radio broadcasting,<ref></ref> where his early radio names were Dave Allen and Dan Hayes.<ref>TwitLive Broadcast, after hours, 2008-12-09</ref> He began his association with computers with his first home ], an ].<ref> ''G4''</ref> Laporte said he purchased his first Macintosh in 1984.<ref></ref> He operated one of the first Macintosh-only ] systems, MacQueue, from 1985 to 1988.


== Background ==
Formerly of Providence, Rhode Island, as of 2007, he lived in ] with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://leoville.com/bio/| author = Leo Laporte | title = Leo Laporte's Official Biography |date=December 14, 2007 |accessdate=December 25, 2011}}</ref> On December 23, 2011, Laporte tweeted that he had been separated from his wife for a year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://twitter.com/leolaporte/status/150451883721502721 | author = Leo Laporte | title = Leo LaPorte's official Twitter |date=December 23, 2011 |accessdate=December 25, 2011}}</ref>
Laporte was born in New York City,<ref name="Leo_G4" /> the son of geologist Leo F. Laporte. He studied Chinese history at ] before dropping out in his junior year to pursue a career in radio broadcasting,<ref>{{cite podcast | url = https://www.ericschwartzman.com/on-the-record-online-with-leo-laporte-of-this-week-in-tech/ | title = How to Pitch Leo Laporte of TWiT | website = On the Record Online Podcast | publisher= | first1 = Eric | last1 = Schwartzman | date = 2005-09-01 | time= | access-date = 2021-12-31 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> where his early on-air names were Dave Allen and Dan Hayes.<ref>TwitLive Broadcast, after hours, 9 December 2008</ref> He began his association with computers with his first home computer, an ].<ref name="Leo_G4" /> By 1984 he owned a ] and wrote a software review for ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Laporte |first = Leo |date = 1984-12-01 |title = Habadex on Apple's Macintosh |url = https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1984-12/page/n497/mode/2up?view=theater |magazine = ] |language = en-us |volume= 9 |issue= 13 |pages= A102–A105 |eissn= |issn= 0360-5280 |oclc= |access-date = 2022-10-29 | via = ] | df = dmy-all}}</ref>


== Television and radio == == Television and radio ==
Laporte has created, hosted, and contributed to a number of technology-related broadcasting projects. He created and co-hosted ''Dvorak On Computers'' in January 1991 (co-hosted with computer pundit ]), and hosted ''Laporte On Computers'' on ] and ] in ]. In addition, Laporte also hosted ''Internet!'' on ], and ''The Personal Computing Show'' on ]. In 1997, he earned an ] for his work on ] '']'', a daily Monday through Saturday hour-long newsmagazine he helped create and appeared on in the role of a ] ] named ]. Laporte has worked on technology-related broadcasting projects, including ''Dvorak on Computers'' in January 1991 (co-hosted with technology writer ]), and ''Laporte on Computers'' on ] and ] in ].<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine | last1 = Friess | first1 = Steve | date = 2006-10-03 | title = Podcasting's Reluctant Evangelist | url = https://www.wired.com/2006/10/podcastings-reluctant-evangelist/ | url-status = live | magazine = ] | language = en-us |volume= |issue= |page= |pages= | eissn = 1078-3148 | issn = 1059-1028 | oclc = 24479723 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040510/https://www.wired.com/2006/10/podcastings-reluctant-evangelist/ |archive-date = 2020-11-09 | access-date = 2021-12-31}}</ref>


In 1997, Laporte was awarded a Northern California ] for his role as ], a ] character on the ] show '']''.
In 1998, he created and co-hosted '']'' and the original version of ''Call for Help'' on the ] and ] network ] (later ''TechTV''). Laporte left ''The Screen Savers'' in 2004, and then later left the network following a dispute with TechTV's then-outgoing owner, Vulcan Ventures, over stock ownership and the cancellation of ''Call for Help''. His contract ended on March 31, and his absence from ''The Screen Savers'' on April 1 was originally believed to be an ] joke.


In 1998, Laporte created and co-hosted '']'',<ref name=zd/> and the original version of ''Call for Help'' on the cable and satellite network ] (later '']'').<ref name=nyt />
Laporte has also pursued acting, playing Uncle Charlie in the movie ''Phoenix Rising''.<ref></ref>


Laporte was the host of the daily ] '']'', recorded in ], Canada. The program had formerly been known as '']'' when it was recorded in the U.S. and ]. The series aired on ], on the ] in ], on several of Canada's ] affiliates, and on ] some weeks after initial broadcast. On March 5, 2008, Laporte confirmed on ''net@nite''<ref></ref> that The Lab with Leo Laporte had been canceled by ]. The ] refused to air the remaining episodes after it was announced the show had been canceled.<ref></ref><ref></ref> Laporte hosted the daily television show ''The Lab with Leo Laporte'', recorded in ], ], Canada. The program was formerly known as ''Call for Help'' when it was recorded in the US and ], ], Canada. The series aired on ], on the ] in Australia, on several of Canada's ] affiliates, and on ]. On March 5, 2008, Laporte confirmed on ''net@nite'' that ''The Lab with Leo Laporte''<ref>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/details/The.Lab.with.Leo | title = The Lab with Leo Laporte | website = ] | date = n.d. | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref> had been canceled by ]. The ] did not air the remaining episodes after it was announced the show had been canceled.<ref name="vapor1" /><ref name="vapor2" />


He also hosts a weekend technology-oriented ] program show titled ''Leo Laporte: ].'' The show, once an exclusive to ] (Los Angeles), is now syndicated on nearly 140 North American radio stations through ], and on ]. Laporte appears semi-regularly on '']'',<ref></ref> '']'',<ref></ref> '']'', and briefly with ] on Friday mornings on KFI. He has also been a guest technology expert on numerous talk radio programs in local markets across the U.S. and Canada. He hosted, until December 2022, a weekend technology-oriented ] program show titled ''Leo Laporte: ]''. The show, started on ] (Los Angeles), was syndicated through ]. Laporte appeared on Friday mornings on KFI with ], and previously on such shows as '']'',<ref name="ShowBizTonight" /> '']'',<ref name="Regis&Kelly" /> and '']''.


He holds an ] license, W6TWT.
== Books ==
Laporte has authored a number of technology-oriented books such as ''101 Computer Answers You Need to Know'', ''Leo Laporte's 2005 Gadget Guide'', ''Leo Laporte's Guide to TiVo'', ''Leo Laporte's Guide to ]'' and ''Leo Laporte's PC Help Desk''. Laporte has also published a yearly series of technology almanacs: ''Leo Laporte's Technology Almanac'' and ''Poor Leo's Computer Almanac''. Laporte's latest and last book is Leo Laporte's 2006 Technology Almanac.


==Bibliography==
Throughout his career, he has contributed to a number of ] such as '']'', '']'', and '']''. Laporte announced in October 2006 that he will not renew his contract with Que Publishing and has retired from publishing his long series of books. He said, "Writing books is hard work and, love-starved groupies aside, the compensations are scant. I’ll put my energies into something I love to do, talking for a living."
Laporte has written technology-oriented books including:
{{refbegin|20em}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Smith | first1 = Gina | author-link1 = Gina Smith (author) | last2 = Laporte | first2=Leo | author-link2 = Leo Laporte | author-mask2 = 1 | title = 101 Computer Answers You Need To Know | publisher = ] | isbn= 978-1562763398 | url = https://archive.org/details/101computeranswe00smit | url-access = registration | lccn = 95159818 | ol = OL873902M | oclc = 32516630 | via = ] | date=1995-03-01 | access-date = 2021-12-31 | df = dmy-all }}
*{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportesguide0000bran | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's Guide to TiVo | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Branwyn | first2 = Gareth | author-link2 = Gareth Branwyn | author-mask1 = 1 | date =2004-10-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-0789731951 | lccn = 2004107054 | oclc = 57086528 | ol = OL3314839M | via = ] | df = dmy-all }}
*{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportes2005mac00lapo | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's 2005 Mac Gadget Guide | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Stauffer | first2 = Todd | author-mask1 = 1 | date =2004-11-08 | access-date = 2021-12-31 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-0789731746 | lccn = 2004107074 | oclc = 56658424 | ol = OL3314849M | via = ] | df = dmy-all }}
*{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportesguide0000lapo | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's Guide to Mac{{nbsp}}OS{{nbsp}}X Tiger | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Stauffer | first2 = Todd | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2005-08-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-0789733931 | lccn = 2005922649 | oclc = 60320459 | ol = OL8157794M | via = ] | df = dmy-all }}
*{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportespchel00leol | url-access = registration | title = Leo Laporte's PC Help Desk | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Soper | first2 = Mark Edward | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2005-09-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-0789733948 | lccn = 2005924991 | oclc = 62382528 | ol = OL8157795M | via = ] }}
*{{cite book | last1 = Bacon | first1 = Jono | author-link1 = Jono Bacon | others = Foreword by Leo Laporte | date = 2009-08-27 | chapter = Foreword from the First Edition | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/ArtOfCommunitySecondEdition/page/n15/mode/2up | chapter-url-access = registration | title = The Art of Community: Building the New Age of Participation (Theory in Practice) | url = https://archive.org/details/ArtOfCommunitySecondEdition | url-access = registration | language = en | edition = Second | publisher = ] | pages = ix-x | isbn = 978-0596156718 | lccn = 2010277242 | oclc = 804515247 | ol = OL24194264M | via = ] | df = dmy-all }}


{{refend}}
In 2008, Laporte did the voice narration for the fable ''The True History of Little Golden-hood'' by Andrew Lang which was made available through ].
He has published a yearly series of technology almanacs:
{{refbegin}}
*''Leo Laporte's Technology Almanac''
*''Poor Leo's Computer Almanac'' {{ISBN|0768654920}}
*''Leo Laporte's 2006 Technology Almanac'' {{ISBN|0789733978}}
{{refend}}
Laporte announced in October 2006 that he would not renew his contract with ], and had retired from publishing books.


In 2008, Laporte did a voice narration of ]'s fable '']''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lang/andrew/l26rf/chapter21.html |title=The Red Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang : THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDEN HOOD |access-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121060412/https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lang/andrew/l26rf/chapter21.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> from ], a sponsor.<ref name="TWiT152_20080721">{{cite web | author = <!-- not stated --> | date = 2008-07-21 | title = this WEEK in TECH 152 | url = http://twit.tv/taxonomy/term/1/0/feed | url-status = dead | format = XML | website = ] | language = en-us | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150121055714/http://twit.tv/taxonomy/term/1/0/feed | archive-date = 2015-01-21 | access-date = 2023-02-20 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
== Netcasting ==
]]]
Laporte currently owns and operates a ] network, ]. The name is derived from the network's award-winning flagship podcast '']'', or TWiT, which is hosted by Laporte along with a rotating panel of guests often made up of several other former ] employees. This show remains one of the most popular podcasts on ] and other podcast subscription services, as evidenced by winning an award at the November 2005 Podcasting Expo in California for the year's best podcast and by its over 280,000 weekly downloads.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Laporte claims TWiT earns $1.5 million annually on a production cost of only $350,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2009/10/03/leo-laporte-video/ |title=Leo Laporte Makes $1.5 Million Per Year from Podcasting| author=Pete Cashmore |accessdate=24 June 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref>


== Podcasting ==
Laporte prefers to call his shows "netcasts," saying "I've never liked the word podcast. It causes confusion … people have told me that they can't listen to my shows because they 'don't own an iPod' … I propose the word 'netcast.' It's a little clearer that these are ] over the ]. It's catchy and even kind of a ]."<ref></ref> With the addition of TWiT.tv's live video feed, the shows are no longer audio-only.
Laporte owns and operates a ] network, ] with his wife<ref name="MarriedLisa">{{Triangulation|187|Danae Ringelmann}}</ref> Lisa Laporte. Before the expansion to new facilities in 2011, Laporte said TWiT earned {{US$|1.5}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1500000|2011|r=-4|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) annually on a production cost of {{US$|350000}} (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|350000|2011|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://mashable.com/2009/10/03/leo-laporte-video/ | date = 2009-10-03 | title = Leo Laporte Makes $1.5{{nbsp}}Million Per Year from Podcasting| first1=Pete | last1 = Cashmore | author-link1 = Pete Cashmore | access-date = 2022-01-01 | work = ] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419193002/http://mashable.com/2009/10/03/leo-laporte-video/ | archive-date = 2021-04-19 | url-status = live}}</ref> In a 2012 ] posting, he commented that revenue was approaching {{US$|4}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|4000000|2011|r=-4|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="Leo Laporte">{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/xh75q/i_am_leo_laporte_chief_twit_ama/c5maz0q | title = Reddit {{hyphen}} /r/IAmA {{!}} I am Leo{{nbsp}}Laporte, Chief{{nbsp}}TWiT. AMA! | first1 = Leo | last1 = Laporte | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2012 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | website = ]}}</ref> The TWiT studios are located in ], ],<ref name=zd>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-new-screen-savers-twit-resurrects-the-show-that-launched-tech-video-into-the-stratosphere/|title=The New Screen Savers: TWiT resurrects the show that launched tech video into the stratosphere|last=Hiner|first=Jason|work=]|date = 2015-04-19| access-date = 2022-01-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211123040341/https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-new-screen-savers-twit-resurrects-the-show-that-launched-tech-video-into-the-stratosphere/ | archive-date = 2021-11-23 | url-status = live}}</ref> where Laporte lives.<ref name=eastside>{{Cite web |url=http://wiki.twit.tv/TWiT_Eastside_Studio_FAQ |title=TWiT Eastside Studio FAQ |website=The Official TWiT Wiki}}</ref>


== References ==
TWiT network "netcast" formats include
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
* Security: '']'' with ]
* Macintosh: '']'' and ''MacBreak Weekly''
* Windows: '']'' with ]
* Open Source software: '']''
* Google and the cloud: (This Week in Google) with ] and ]
* Android:
* Daily tech news:
* iPad:
* Amateur Radio: with ] (K9EID), ] (W6TWT) & guests.
* others: '']'' (formerly known as ''The Daily Giz Wiz'') with ], with ], '']'', and the '']'' with ] and ].
By December 2010, his 23 shows were downloaded over 5,000,000 times a month.<ref>{{cite news
| title=Talking Tech and Building an Empire From Podcasts
|author=Jon Kalish |date=December 26, 2010|newspaper= NY Times
| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/technology/27podcast.html}}</ref>


<ref name="Leo_Premiere">{{cite web | url = https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/leo-laporte-tech-guy | title = Leo Laporte, Your Go-To Gadget Guy |date = n.d. | access-date = 2022-01-03 | website = ] | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20211110134047/https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/leo-laporte-tech-guy | archive-date = 2021-11-10}}</ref>
== Recent publicized events ==
On March 14, 2010, Leo Laporte made the World Record for the longest live-streamed Crowd-Surf,<ref></ref> as recognized by URDB World Records,<ref></ref> which he performed during a live episode of ] at the ] Interactive event in Austin Texas.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>


<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/tv/cover-story-plug-in-boot-up-feel-free-to-melt-down.html|title=COVER STORY; Plug In, Boot Up, Feel Free to Melt Down|last= Marriott |first=Michael | work=]|date=2003-12-21|access-date=2021-12-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027024652/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/tv/cover-story-plug-in-boot-up-feel-free-to-melt-down.html | archive-date = 2021-10-27 | url-status = live | url-access = subscription | eissn = 1553-8095 | issn = 0362-4331 | oclc = 1645522}}</ref>
In May 2010, Leo publicly deleted his ] account live on the air after frequent recommendations from other co-hosts.<ref>http://knoifm.com/news/1569-facebookdisablesknoi.html</ref><ref></ref><ref> at readwriteweb.com</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_y7mMlKgjY</ref> Laporte later re-activated his Facebook account to try out ]. He frequently pointed out in his shows that his attitude towards Facebook did not change, but that for being a journalist he needs to know what is happening on this important platform.


<ref name="Leo_G4">{{cite web | url = http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/6296/Focus_On_Leo.html | title = Focus On: Leo |date = n.d. | access-date = 2022-01-01 | website = ] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060926020523/http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/6296/Focus_On_Leo.html | archive-date = 2006-09-26}}</ref>
== TWiT Live ==
Leo now hosts an online tech-oriented video stream ''TWiT Live''.<ref></ref> It is currently broadcast through two BitGravity<ref></ref> streams, as well as an audio only stream,<ref></ref> a ] channel and a ] channel which are all live every day from about 11AM to 7 PM ]. A complete, official programming schedule can be found on


<ref name="ShowBizTonight">{{Cite episode | title = Man Convicted for Cameron Diaz Nude Photo Scam; Clay Aiken Answers Questions About Charity; iPod Nation: Why Are They So Popular? | episode-link = | url = | access-date = | series = Showbiz Tonight | series-link = Showbiz Tonight | first1 = Karyn | last1 = Bryant | author-link1 = Karyn Bryant | first2 = A.J. | last2 = Hammer | author-link2 = A.J. Hammer| network = ] | station = | date = 2005-07-25 | season = 1 | series-no = | number = 76 | minutes = | time = | transcript = RUSH TRANSCRIPT | transcript-url = https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sbt/date/2005-07-25/segment/01 | quote = | language =en-us}}</ref>
On July 11, 2008 Laporte produced a special 24-hour show about the release of the ]. It received 500,733 views, with a peak of over 100,000 concurrent viewers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark 'Rizzn' |last=Hopkins |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Leo Laporte Does 24 Hours of iPhone to Over a Quarter Million Viewers|url=http://mashable.com/2008/07/11/24-hours-iphone/ |work=Mashable: Social Networking News |publisher= |date=2008-07-11 |accessdate=2007-07-15 }}</ref>


<ref name="Regis&Kelly">{{cite web | url = http://leoville.com/Appearances/LiveWithRegisAndKelly | title = Leoville: Live with Regis and Kelly | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070312214849/http://leoville.com/Appearances/LiveWithRegisAndKellyab-with-leo/ | date = 2007-01-22 | archive-date = 2007-03-12 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>
The TWiT network's broadcast content was added in November 2009 as a free channel on the new ] streaming media device and can also be viewed on many internet-enabled televisions.


<ref name="vapor1">{{cite web | url = http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/lab-with-leo-off-tv-in-australia-let-us-see-the-remaining-episodes/ | last1 = Vapor | first1 = Matt | title = Lab with Leo off TV in Australia – Let us See the Remaining Episodes | website = Matt Vapor's Blog {{!}} Advocating Technology for Everyone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080804031636/http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/lab-with-leo-off-tv-in-australia-let-us-see-the-remaining-episodes/ | date = 2008-03-27 | archive-date = 2008-08-04 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>
On January 27, 2010 Laporte hosted over 180,000 concurrent viewers as he provided in-depth coverage including live video and audio feeds from Apple's January 27 Event, where Apple's ] was first revealed by ].


<ref name="vapor2">{{cite web | url = http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/response-from-how-to-channel-australia-regarding-the-lab-with-leo/ | last1 = Vapor | first1 = Matt | title = Response from How-To Channel Australia Regarding The Lab with Leo | website = Matt Vapor's Blog {{!}} Advocating Technology for Everyone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080804031755/http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/response-from-how-to-channel-australia-regarding-the-lab-with-leo/ | date = 2008-03-27 | archive-date = 2008-08-04 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>
In January 2011 Laporte signed a new lease for a warehouse space in downtown Petaluma which became the new TWiT headquarters in July of 2011. This former furniture factory is a large facility that has more room for various studio setups and audience seating.<ref></ref> The facility that houses the new TWiT Studios has been many former businesses including a drug store (one that Leo once even took his children to), a furniture factory, and the main building for ]. The first broadcast of TWiT from there took place on July 24, 2011 and featured ], ], ], and ].


}}
==Website hacked==
On Sept 15, 2011, Laporte's site, TWiT.tv, was hacked.<ref>http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/09/15/twit-tv-malware-infects-leo-laportes-website</ref>

== References ==
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== External links == == External links ==
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Latest revision as of 23:44, 23 December 2024

American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur

Leo Laporte
Photograph of Leo Laporte's head and shoulders. Leo is pictured wearing a patterned shirt. There is a black background and Leo is smiling.Laporte pictured in 2007
Born (1956-11-29) November 29, 1956 (age 68)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • TV and radio presenter
  • podcaster
Known forFounding TWiT.tv
Notable credits
TelevisionInternet! (PBS), The Site (MSNBC), Call for Help (ZDTV/TechTV), The Screen Savers (ZDTV/TechTV)
Spouses
  • Jennifer Laporte (divorced)
  • Lisa Laporte (m. c. 2015)
Websiteleo.fm Edit this at Wikidata

Leo Laporte (/ləˈpɔːrt/; born November 29, 1956) is the former host of The Tech Guy weekly radio show and founder of TWiT.tv, an Internet podcast network focusing on technology. He is also a former TechTV technology host (1998–2008) and a technology author. On November 19, 2022, actor, writer, musician, and comedian Steve Martin called into Laporte's radio show to announce Leo's retirement from The Tech Guy radio show. Laporte's last new radio show was December 18, 2022 with reruns for the remainder of the year. Rich DeMuro later appeared on the show to announce that he will be taking over in January with a weekly show, recorded on Saturdays, called "Rich On Tech."

Background

Laporte was born in New York City, the son of geologist Leo F. Laporte. He studied Chinese history at Yale University before dropping out in his junior year to pursue a career in radio broadcasting, where his early on-air names were Dave Allen and Dan Hayes. He began his association with computers with his first home computer, an Atari 400. By 1984 he owned a Macintosh and wrote a software review for Byte magazine.

Television and radio

Laporte has worked on technology-related broadcasting projects, including Dvorak on Computers in January 1991 (co-hosted with technology writer John C. Dvorak), and Laporte on Computers on KGO Radio and KSFO in San Francisco.

In 1997, Laporte was awarded a Northern California Emmy for his role as Dev Null, a motion capture character on the MSNBC show The Site.

In 1998, Laporte created and co-hosted The Screen Savers, and the original version of Call for Help on the cable and satellite network ZDTV (later TechTV).

Laporte hosted the daily television show The Lab with Leo Laporte, recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The program was formerly known as Call for Help when it was recorded in the US and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The series aired on G4 Canada, on the HOW TO Channel in Australia, on several of Canada's Citytv affiliates, and on Google Video. On March 5, 2008, Laporte confirmed on net@nite that The Lab with Leo Laporte had been canceled by Rogers Communications. The HOW TO Channel did not air the remaining episodes after it was announced the show had been canceled.

He hosted, until December 2022, a weekend technology-oriented talk radio program show titled Leo Laporte: The Tech Guy. The show, started on KFI AM 640 (Los Angeles), was syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks. Laporte appeared on Friday mornings on KFI with Bill Handel, and previously on such shows as Showbiz Tonight, Live with Kelly, and World News Now.

He holds an amateur radio license, W6TWT.

Bibliography

Laporte has written technology-oriented books including:

He has published a yearly series of technology almanacs:

Laporte announced in October 2006 that he would not renew his contract with Que Publishing, and had retired from publishing books.

In 2008, Laporte did a voice narration of Andrew Lang's fable The True History of Little Golden-hood from Audible (Amazon), a sponsor.

Podcasting

Laporte owns and operates a podcast network, TWiT.tv with his wife Lisa Laporte. Before the expansion to new facilities in 2011, Laporte said TWiT earned US$1.5 million (equivalent to $2,030,000 in 2023) annually on a production cost of US$350,000 (equivalent to $474,000 in 2023). In a 2012 Reddit posting, he commented that revenue was approaching US$4 million (equivalent to $5,420,000 in 2023). The TWiT studios are located in Petaluma, California, where Laporte lives.

References

  1. — (December 4, 2021). "The Tech Guy #1849". TWiT.tv (Podcast). Event occurs at 17:37. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  2. "Leo Laporte, Your Go-To Gadget Guy". Premiere Networks. n.d. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. Laporte, Lisa. "The Secret Is Out!". TWiT.tv. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. "Rich on Tech | Premiere Networks". www.premierenetworks.com. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "Focus On: Leo". G4. n.d. Archived from the original on September 26, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. Schwartzman, Eric (1 September 2005). "How to Pitch Leo Laporte of TWiT". On the Record Online Podcast (Podcast). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  7. TwitLive Broadcast, after hours, 9 December 2008
  8. Laporte, Leo (1 December 1984). "Habadex on Apple's Macintosh". Byte. Vol. 9, no. 13. pp. A102 – A105. ISSN 0360-5280. Retrieved 29 October 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  9. Friess, Steve (October 3, 2006). "Podcasting's Reluctant Evangelist". WIRED. eISSN 1078-3148. ISSN 1059-1028. OCLC 24479723. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Hiner, Jason (April 19, 2015). "The New Screen Savers: TWiT resurrects the show that launched tech video into the stratosphere". ZDNet. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  11. Marriott, Michael (December 21, 2003). "COVER STORY; Plug In, Boot Up, Feel Free to Melt Down". The New York Times. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  12. "The Lab with Leo Laporte". Internet Archive. n.d. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  13. Vapor, Matt (March 27, 2008). "Lab with Leo off TV in Australia – Let us See the Remaining Episodes". Matt Vapor's Blog | Advocating Technology for Everyone. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  14. Vapor, Matt (March 27, 2008). "Response from How-To Channel Australia Regarding The Lab with Leo". Matt Vapor's Blog | Advocating Technology for Everyone. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  15. Bryant, Karyn; Hammer, A.J. (July 25, 2005). "Man Convicted for Cameron Diaz Nude Photo Scam; Clay Aiken Answers Questions About Charity; iPod Nation: Why Are They So Popular?". Showbiz Tonight. Season 1. Episode 76. CNN. RUSH TRANSCRIPT.
  16. "Leoville: Live with Regis and Kelly". January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  17. "The Red Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang : THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDEN HOOD". Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  18. "this WEEK in TECH 152". TWiT.tv. 21 July 2008. Archived from the original (XML) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  19. Danae Ringelmann interviewed on the TV show Triangulation on the TWiT.tv network
  20. Cashmore, Pete (October 3, 2009). "Leo Laporte Makes $1.5 Million Per Year from Podcasting". Mashable. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  21. — (2012). "Reddit - /r/IAmA | I am Leo Laporte, Chief TWiT. AMA!". Reddit. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  22. "TWiT Eastside Studio FAQ". The Official TWiT Wiki.

External links

TWiT.tv
Podcasts
Hosts
Categories: